How would you like to be able to pick the boss who decides whether or not you get a raise? That's exactly what's happening in the Northampton County race for County Executive. The very first person to speak for Lamont McClure was AFSCME Business Agent Justus James, who negotiates most of the union contracts with Northampton County. Also present were both the past and current AFSCME union presidents at Gracedale. They'll give him money collected from union members, and he'll give them money collected from us. Sounds fair, right?
Also in the audience was Gregg Potter, president of the LV Labor Council, and Charles Dertinger, a former Council member tied in with IBEW.
Controller Stevie Barron, who is something of a union organizer himself, told the assembled green T-shirted lynch mob that McClure is his man. After all, he can't be Controller forever. He can get a job in the McClure administration as an asbestos searcher.
Then there were the green T-shirted "Save Gracedale" mob, who acted as though this campaign announcement was some sort of religious revival and whipped themselves into a frenzy.
All they needed was a rope.
Council member Ken Kraft was there, but only as a courtesy. He is remaining neutral in the race. Though close friends with McClure, DA John Morganelli was absent at yesterday's announcement.
Gracedale supporters
In fairness, here's a recap on what AFSCME does:
Although I am a Republican, in the primary I am writing in Ron Angle's name. And when the general election comes about I am writing in Stoffa's name.
ReplyDeleteSeems as though that video was made, right about the time you were disbarred. Now that's funny!!
ReplyDeleteAnon 12:10, please vote for Stoffa. He has been the most
ReplyDeleteRepublican Executive in County history.
Justus has a fantastic soul patch, not quite on the level of RMM's caterpillar but it is well sculpted.
ReplyDeleteWhat's with these guys and the fake facial hair? It looks like a Village People reunion. I heard that a couple of nervous guys who dropped their car keys at the presser, kicked them all the way out to the parking lot. This ain't yer daddy's union.
ReplyDeleteI never realized how short Baron is. And I like Kraft, but he is fooling no one. He has to cut that comb-over. It is really bad!!!
ReplyDeleteBOH, when you attend these events alongside people who despise you is it ever tense, do you give certain people a wide berth and avoid eye contact? Jack looks powerfully built and if he went on a rampage he could probably execute a mean German suplex.
ReplyDeleteTommy, I ignore them as best I can.
ReplyDeleteLike how you make excusues for Kraft. He has been pusing and promoting McClure for months. You need to live in the real world.
ReplyDeleteThe new Council will, as always, have the final vote on whether a new contract is approved, not the executive. AFSME is supporting McClure because he strongly supported them during the Gracedale fight. Like any other county Executive, he'd have to see what the economic situation is during negotiations before deciding what raises are appropriate..maybe unstead of building a multimillion dollar building, he'll give better services and salaries.. CMon Bernie, you hate McClure and AFSME and you love Stoffa..Stoffa gave good raises to SEIU when he came into office..Does that mean he was in their pocket? Seriously Bernie?
ReplyDeletethis is the reason why unions have no place in the public sector
ReplyDeleteWhat a goofy mob. Half the people there looked like they had punch cards at the Old Country Buffet. Just flush the county taxpayers down the toilet if McClueless ever gets elected.
ReplyDeleteYou attacked John Callahan and Reibman for years. You attacked every R (minus bobble head and Ronnie Boy) on council for years. Face it, you knocked out his opponents, and you paved his way to executive office.
ReplyDeleteDear 5:51,
ReplyDeleteDuh?? This is the reason we shouldnt have unions in the public sector? Maybe I missed it..Why, because 5 republicans got elected to county council with their help in 2009? Duh...Or because public employees should be slave laborers who get whatever the masters want to give them? Duh... give me a break!
"Half the people there looked like they had punch cards at the Old Country Buffet"
ReplyDeleteWhat a horribly rude comment, Jack D and co. are regulars at the Chinese Buffet on route 248, the meat on a stick is to die for.
@ 8:59
ReplyDeleteYou need to understand that Bernie is anti-union. He considers all supporters to be "thugs" and their leaders to be a "boss."
If it weren't for unions, there wouldn't be a 40 hour work week, a minimum wage, and a host of other benefits that Congress has put into law, that only slightly improves the standard of living for those who aren't unionized.
Bernie is the type that thinks Wal-mart workers should kiss the collective billionaire asses of the Walton family. Perhaps if Bernie were to take a job in a non-union shop where the bosses are assholes he might see the light and stop trying to associate the region's woes with unions.
If Ron Angle runs as a Republican Primary winner in the fall election he wins hands down.
ReplyDelete"this is the reason why unions have no place in the public sector"
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more. They get too closely involved in choosing the guy who decides on their raises. They co-opt each other at the expense of the taxpayer. Yesterday was a perfect example. The very first person to speak at his announcement was a guy with whom the County is required to negotiate several contracts.
"If Ron Angle runs as a Republican Primary winner in the fall election he wins hands down."
ReplyDeleteNo he doesn't. This is a year for the Democrats. Ron would be nuts to run
"Like how you make excusues for Kraft"
ReplyDeleteYou mean tell the truth? Would you prefer that I lie and say Kraft supports McClure?
"This is the reason we shouldnt have unions in the public sector? Maybe I missed it..Why, because 5 republicans got elected to county council with their help in 2009?"
ReplyDeleteThis is an outright fabrication. The public sector unions gave no assistance to any Republican seeking office in 2009, and in fact worked against them.
It is only now that I see a business agent who directly negotiates union contracts and grievances, is making an Executive candidate's campaign announcement. That is beyond the pale. I've never seen anything like it before. Of course it's wrong. Only an idiot would try to defend this.
"You need to understand that Bernie is anti-union. He considers all supporters to be "thugs" and their leaders to be a "boss."
ReplyDeleteTry again. Not only do I support unions, I helped organize one at Baker Chemical Company when I was still a kid, and succeeded. But public sector unions bother me very much. I am very disturbed that this group shackles the taxpayer instead of greedy corporations, and I detest the kind of incestuous relationship like the one that exists between Justus James and Lamont McClure. If McClure is elected, there is no way that taxpayers will get an even break in contract negotiations.
let me add that many prate sector union members are just as appalled by this as I.
"The new Council will, as always, have the final vote on whether a new contract is approved, not the executive."
ReplyDeleteYou know as well as i that any union contract negotiated by the administration is always approved by Council. If Council hesitates, it gets sued.
Your comment is disingenuous, not what i would expect from someone who says his word is his bond.
Being anti-public sector union is completely different from being anti-union. Even lefty Progressive god, FDR, was anti-public sector union. He thought them damn dangerous. Turns out, he was right. Public sector unions are Democrat block voting monkeys on the dole. They are glorified welfare recipients. Real, private sector unions don't do welfare.
ReplyDeleteAm I dreaming that Barron backed McClure? I thought Barron wanted to run for CE? He was whispering that he wanted the CE job in everyone's ear. He was trying to brag that he was going to run Stoffa, Angle, and BO out of town when he became the CE. Now what? His stories change minute to minute. With that much indecision or fantasy in his mind, how the hell does he make a decision to dress himself in the morning? I wonder what the inside of his house looks like? I bet there are wonderful color schemes throughout the house. I bet you there are big portraits of him all throughout his house, especially in the shitter!
ReplyDeleteWatch McClure withdraw and throw his support to Reibman
ReplyDeleteBe careful, only the local is in his corner and not even all of them..... Talk to the State and national
ReplyDeleteSeamus
3:13, I have heard the same exact thing from several sources, but I still can't see it. Why waste the time and money. Rubeman is going to go after the Mayor trying to use an outdated playbook. I refer again to the state of the city and the standing ovation the Mayor received it was magic. Having someone who knows about budgets and getting jobs done is going to be hard to beat. A no show (he missed the last to whole years of meetings), a no show bridge commission job, several pensions and lifetime healthcare..... he should be ashamed to show his face let alone stand up against the doers of the world
ReplyDeleteSeamus
Eat a hot piece of shat and get in your hobbit hole you nazrethian.
ReplyDeleteSeamus, given the Mayor went from drug salesman to Mayor and is gunning for his second public pension, I wouldn't be to smug. You may want to throw that crap but the public employees will take you down.
ReplyDeleteStoffa used that crap and he is the King of Public tit sucking. People are sick of it and any Dem using that approach will not fare well. So you may want to review your strategy.
It is all irrelevent, since McClure is the next County Executive.
All three are recycled trough sloppers from the old playbook. One is an ambulance chaser who runs for things and doesn't show up. The other has been napping at the bridge commission after running up a ridiculous bond debt in order to create union work that further raped taxpayers. The front runner is a documented sleaze who covered-up likely crimes committed by family members and resulting in the loss of city assets. This, while he was borrowing money to make city payroll because he can't count to eleven without pulling out his junk.
ReplyDeleteAll of this had been documented here.
And one of these dumb f**ks will end up with a park named after him.
This is a fine pile of steaming shit. It's no wonder politicians are so hated.
Bernie it does not matter who gets elected as exec.the unions wont get shit anyway,heres your 2.5% raise but we want you to pay 4% for your medical,yeah the unions are the problem yeah right.Signed anonymous troll.
ReplyDeleteLooks like AFSCME and McClure have wonderful relationship and I'm sure that in their next contract under Exec McClure, all their dreams will come true. It was a disgustng display and your failure to recognize that reveals why you are anonymous and a troll.
ReplyDeleteDid Justus suffer a stroke recently or some other medical condition? His speech seems really stilted and disjointed, seems like a cool guy and is tight with "Stevie" Barron.
ReplyDeleteI'm unaware of any serious illness and would not wish that on anyone. I have heard Justus speak before and that is how he talks.
ReplyDeleteBernie if what you say about AFSCME and if Mclure is elected that there dreams will come true is a bullshit statement and you know that or are you just parinoid stop already.
ReplyDeleteMcClure..DOA. What a waste of union money to support this piece of crap. Go back to Bucks county Justus and stay out of NH county politics!
ReplyDelete